Sanibel Island Makes Another "A" list

Though Sanibel Island has been lauded as having a great beach by experts, scientists and various publications, it now has another feather in its proverbial cap.

TripAdvisor, considered to be the largest internet site for the traveling public, just launched its first survey on beaches, allowing for respondents to cover the world. The results have been broken down into best beaches in the world and then narrowed to best beaches in the USA.

Sanibel Island, which placed number 5 of best beaches in the USA, was described as a "Quiet, secluded white beach, with its scurrying sandpipers, offer(ing) a respite from the holiday making hordes elsewhere."

"It's that time of year when travelers are dreaming of getaways to warm beach destinations. To provide inspiration on where to go, we've named some amazing hot spots around the world, based on millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travelers," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "In addition to the outstanding beaches, these destinations also feature top-rated options for hotels, vacation rentals, attractions, and restaurants."

And while the cooler northeast coast might appear to attract more beach goers in the summer months, that is not actually the case according to the survey results. Of the fifty four percent of the 2,100 survey respondents who are planning a beach vacation in 2011, 17 percent intend to visit the U.S. Southeast coast while only 13 percent expect to explore the northeast coast, with a full 12 percent planning to go to the gulf coast.

That would seem counter intuitive given the far greater numbers of people with access to the northeast coast and the fact that areas such as SW Florida are thought as hot and humid in summer...well, to be honest they are hot and humid in summer.

But that also means the water is much more pleasant for swimming, calmer for just bobbing around on a float and because our beaches go on and on and on, there are very few crowded beaches in Florida, especially so when it comes to Sanibel beaches which--- even in winter--- are gently used.

But one of the biggest factors we suspect might be at play in driving vacationers to Sanibel this and every summer is the cost factor. A lovely and spacious condo on the Island may run between $900 and $1300 for the week. The alternative up north, especially at the New Jersey and New York beaches, will be double the cost.

The savvy consumer is well aware of the beauty of our beaches and the considerable cost savings and the rush for rooms has begun. Don't get left in the dust and do your research now to see why Sanibel Island has once again been decorated with "best" in show!